Monday, May 20, 2013

Day 11: Hell

From just within my hearing, the news anchor on channel 10
is panicking. You know the world is about to end when a news reporter stops
speaking in that nonchalant way they always do, “Yesterday, a mother drowned
her baby.” They would announce as if merely stating an obvious fact that the
sky is blue and that grass is green.

‘Since early this morning, there has been a global attack on
civilians by what seems to be zombies. Apparently, once you’re bitten you will
also become infected. It has been declared a pandemic.’

The staff crowd around the television, whispering buzzes of
concern and excitement. Trust university researchers to find an epidemic
exciting. I watch from the corner of my eye as Phil continues working on his
thesis. He has a severe case of workaholicism. Not a real word. But it should
be.

Phil is a true sceptic. His philosophy, “Nothing is proven
real until I see it with my own eyes.’ I hope we don’t get the chance to see
the zombies. Our university is a private research institute that values privacy
from the public. Our campus is surrounded by a thick brick wall and steal
enforced gate that can only be opened through key cards. So we’re safe for
now.

‘I bet it was the Chinese.’

I return my attention to the Vice-Chancellor. He came to the
science department this morning demanding our attention. He has been speaking
none stop since he walked through that door.

‘Sorry?’

‘I bet the Chinese are at fault. They’re always up to
something, inventing crazy contraptions.’

I think he’s referring to the Japanese.

‘Sir, that’s Japan.’

‘Or it could be those people up in Israel, Afghanistan. I
bet it was the Taliban. Terrorism, I say.’

Images and shaky video recordings of people being eaten
alive flicker on the television screen. I think this is something more sinister
than terrorism.

‘Vice-Chancellor, I think the terrorists are also suffering
from this pandemic.’

The phone rings and I instantly sprint for it. The orange
blinking light indicates that the call is coming from the security office. My
pulse quickens. This can’t be good. They never call us. I know that it’s
regarding the pandemic.

‘Hello, this is Dr Kimmy Khang from the science department.’

I listen intently as the voice from the other end gush words
out so furiously that they jumble. All of a sudden, I hear screaming and the
line dies with that hollowing beep-beep-beep. I drop the phone, hearing it
crash into oblivion onto the tiles like my heart that died with the screams of
the security guards.

‘They’re here. The pandemic has breached our gates.’

A hush falls upon the office as people slowly digest the news. Silently, I pray to a God I never once believed in. But it’s
too late; Hell has come to greet the living. We are that Hell. Humanity created
Hell.